At that time, it was hard to imagine anything coming close to the Benz flagship’s eminent loveliness, but now we know what they meant. The 2017 C-class coupe is truly stunning. It’ll be half the price of the S-class coupe, but it is no less beautiful. From the low, scowling visage to its tapered, sloping tail, there are few details we haven’t seen before, yet it comes together in a striking whole. Credit the long wheelbase, the bottle-contour body sides, the thick roof pillars, and the slim greenhouse that not only mimics the S-class’s styling but imparts a measure of visual substance desperately needed for the low man on the Benz-coupe totem pole. Audi is going to have to step it up with the next A5 if it’s going to out-pretty this one.

The 2017 C-class coupe rollout begins next spring, with the rear-drive C300 and all-wheel-drive C300 4MATIC, which, like the C300/C300 4MATIC sedans, are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission is a seven-speed automatic, and Mercedes’ Dynamic Select adjustable-chassis system is standard fare. Also standard are 18-inch wheels, all-season tires, and a sport suspension that has the coupe riding 0.6-inch closer to the ground than the sedan. An optional Sport Appearance package brings Airmatic springs and 18-inch AMG-styled wheels, plus an AMG body kit, a more chrome-intensive grille, AMG pedals, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

As we reported during our first ride in a C300 coupe prototype, the C300s will be joined within a few months of their launch by a C450 AMG coupe powered by a 362-hp twin-turbocharged V-6, as well as a fire-breathing Mercedes-AMG C63 coupe with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 in 469-hp and 503-hp states of tune. We’ve also been told that the Mercedes-AMG versions will feature swollen fenders to make room for larger rolling stock.

The 2017 C-class coupe’s interior design is, not surprisingly, closely akin to that of its sedan sibling—no bad thing. Front passengers sit nearly an inch lower on standard sport seats, and all passengers have more head-, shoulder-, and elbow room than in the outgoing model. Alas, beauty often requires some sacrifice, and rear-seat legroom and trunk space are down despite the car being 3.7 inches longer and 1.6 inches wider than its predecessor. The interior is brightened by a standard panoramic sunroof.

Also standard on all C300 coupes will be LED headlamps, keyless ignition, a 7.0-inch screen for Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND system, and climate control that uses GPS to detect tunnels, at which point it automatically switches to recirculation mode. The navigation system’s interactive functions now include a “Drive Show” mode that presents trip information to occupants via Google Maps à la airplane in-seat displays. Options include Burmester audio and a larger, 8.4-inch display. Upholstery color choices include saddle brown, porcelain, and, in the Edition 1 model that will commemorate the car’s launch, a nut-brown-and-black combo with turquoise stitching. As with the S-class, the C-class will offer semiautonomous driving features in the form of Distronic Plus cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and auto-braking features. Also optional are a parallel and perpendicular parking-assist system and a 360-degree-view camera.

Pricing, fuel-economy ratings, and other vital stats will be made available closer to the coupe’s launch. The car will make its first auto-show appearances this fall, likely starting with the Frankfurt event next month and then the L.A. show in November. But we already know perhaps the most important thing about the 2017 C-class coupe: that it sure looks good.

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